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ELEANOR GORDON

 Series
Identifier: 3

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Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The Cynthia Grant Tucker papers measure 10 linear inches and span from the 1970s to the 1990s. The papers are divided into three series: Mary Collson (1973-1994), Mary Safford (1983-1994), and Eleanor Gordon (1978-1994).

The Mary Collson series (1973-1994) includes one copy of “A Woman’s Ministry,” and two copies of “A Healer in Harm’s Way,” both of which were written by Cynthia Grant Tucker and cover the topic of Mary Collson’s life and involvement in the Unitarian Church. This series also includes Tucker’s correspondence relating to her research of Collson and her writing process. Some of Collson’s writings are in this series, including her autobiography, as are some photocopies of documents pertaining to Collson’s life. Photocopies of Collson’s correspondence with Edward Meeman and Jane Addams from 1903 to 1952 are also included in this series. These photocopies have some of Tucker’s annotations and research notes on them. Collson’s letters to Meeman touch upon a variety of topics, including sex-psychology, her feelings towards her separation from Christian Science, socialism, and racial discrimination within the Christian Science church. The research papers presented within this series were primarily for Tucker’s research for "A Woman’s Ministry: Mary Collson’s Search for Reform as a Unitarian Minister, a Hull House Social Worker, and a Christian Science Practitioner," that is referred to within this series as either, "The Story of Mary Collson (1870-1953): Frontier Minister, Settlement Worker, Christian Science Practitioner," or as, "A March to a Different Drummer." It must be noted that all photocopies within this series are not allowed to be photocopied due to their rights belonging to other archives.

The Mary Safford series (1983-1994) consists of Tucker’s correspondence revolving around her research of Safford and photocopies of documents relating to Reverend Mary Safford’s life. Photocopies and transcriptions of Safford’s correspondence with various male ministers of the Unitarian church and with her family from 1875 to 1926 are also included within this series. Tucker’s annotations and research notes can be found on these photocopies. Safford’s correspondence with Reverend Saint John displays some of the disagreements and friction that occurred amongst the ministers of the church as her letters do not hide her dislike of him. Nearly half of the correspondence found within this series consists of Safford’s correspondence with her mother, Louisa Safford. The book that Tucker applied this research to is not specified within this series, but it can be assumed that some of this research went towards Tucker’s book, "Prophetic Sisterhood: Liberal Women Ministries of the Frontier, 1880-1930," that was published in 1990, as well as her book, "Healer in Harm’s Way: Mary Collson, A Clergywoman in Christian Science," that was published in 1994. All transcribed letters found within this series were transcribed by Kay Stein in 1991. It must be noted that all photocopies within this series cannot be photocopied due to their rights belonging to other archives.

The Eleanor Gordon series (1978-1994) includes photocopies relating to Reverend Eleanor Gordon’s life and photocopies of Gordon’s correspondence from 1885 to 1938 with Reverend Jenkins Lloyd Jones and Reverend Samuel Eliot, both of whom were also ministers of the Unitarian church. Tucker’s annotations and research notes can be found throughout the series. Gordon’s correspondence with Jones displays Gordon’s distress over the negative feelings occurring amongst the community of Unitarian ministers. These letters especially display her frustration with the some of the male ministers, such as Reverend Samuel Eliot, who objected to the church’s acceptance of female ministers. The book that Tucker applied this research to is not specified within this series, but it can be assumed that some of this research went towards Tucker’s book, "Prophetic Sisterhood: Liberal Women Ministries of the Frontier, 1880-1930," that was published in 1990, as well as her book, "Healer in Harm’s Way: Mary Collson, A Clergywoman in Christian Science," that was published in 1994. It must be noted that all photocopies within this series cannot be photocopied due to their rights belonging to other archives.

Dates

  • Creation: 1973-1994

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The papers are open for research. 

Extent

From the Collection: 10.00 linear inches

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Repository Details

Part of the Iowa Women's Archives Repository

Contact:
100 Main Library
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City IA 52242 IaU
319-335-5068
319-335-5900 (Fax)